XM Radio

There are lots of XM antennas available out there. Depends if you can access the back of your radio to plug them in.

Start Here......XM Antenna Link

I think the OP just might hold the record for "new" member status. He or she joined 14 years ago.

Can't wait to hear a fairly simple approach that works. The only one that ever sort of worked for me was a magnetic antenna on the hood. That worked prett well unless I was heading North.

I've given up and just use iTunes on my phone through the radio now.

Basically the postage stamp sized antenna pods used for XM and GPS need a clear, visual line of sight "view" to the satellites for a connection. The vehicle manufacturers typically hide them under the dash (on top of the metal part of the dash) which gives pretty good reception for satellites in front and directly overhead, but the cab tends to mask the satellites behind you. When you load something like a camper with a front overhang you mask them even more. What's worse for XM is there are fewer satellites to receive from, although GPS has the problem of needing multiple satellites to provide a good fix.

The solution, as others have pointed out, is to get another antenna and place it where the masking will be minimal. Unfortunately for the person with a camper that will probably mean putting the antenna on top of the camper. That's a hassle when you remove the camper because it means having to connect/reconnect the antenna to the radio under the dash. I guess you could bring the connection out to a convenient spot under the dash using an extension cable making it simpler to switch between two different antennas - the one on the truck and the one on the camper.

My Class B had both XM and GPS antennas under the dash and I would get dropouts depending on where I was, what direction I was traveling and time of day (GPS satellites change position as they orbit). My "solution" was to move them from under the dash and place them on top as close to the front of the vehicle as possible. It's not perfect but it helped a lot. Of course I now have two little postage stamp antennas on top of the dash.

Oh, lesson learned on the XM antenna connection. It is an RCA type connection which is a push on connection held in place with friction. Mine jiggled loose on a long trip and I lost all my XM radio. When I found the problem and reconnected it I sealed the connection with electrical rubber glue.

I picked one up at Best Buy. Its a magnetic pod that I secure to the front of the hood when the TC is on. When not in use I attach it under the hood and out of the way. Only use it when the TC is loaded. Otherwise Im back to the factory antenna.

I just came upon this picture of my old Lance 981 with the XM antenna visible attached to the hood:

So you tear the radio out every time you switch back and forth from the factory to the external antenna? Or, does it have easy access?

Ive had my Siruius anatine on the hood of my truck for 200k+ miles and 12 yrs. No real issues with reception unless im in a canyon or around tall trees right at the side of the road. '

In fact I just had to replace my siruis unit (after 12 yrs) and had the new on set up with the antenna on the hood.

on my 2015 F350 XM plug down by steering column I bought extra antenna & plugin from ford and mounted in front of windshield on drivers side works great. there is article somewhere that shows exactly what to do

mkirsch wrote:
So you tear the radio out every time you switch back and forth from the factory to the external antenna? Or, does it have easy access?

Open the glove box, release the catch, let the glove box lid drop forward, giving unobstructed access to the XM power box. Unplug the factory antenna plug, plug in the accessory antenna plug, and shut the glove box. Takes all of 30 seconds. And no I havent had to tear out the radio yet.